Recent work has included researching, documenting & catagorising hay bale markings across the country. The resulting record of this painterly anomoly has informed the production of original works distilling the concept of painterly freedom/restriction in each category discovered.
The farmer’s marks can appear calligraphic, typographic, anthropomorphic, similar to naive children's drawings and also akin to famous abstract expressionist painters. Establishing a definitive number of painted bale categories has allowed me to create a clear series of works based on each category.
I have a working theory that the more rural farmers have a looser hand when they mark their bales, an insight into how location can influence subconscious mark-making and the effects of rural living.
This project has received funding under the Agility Award from the Arts Council of Ireland.